Ethan had spent the past forty-eight hours buried in the security logs of the company, coordinating with the IT forensics team, and combing through traces of data access routes that shouldn’t have existed. His usually composed face had hardened, each line sharpened by frustration and urgency.

The leak had spread farther than expected.

Media outlets were dissecting every exposed detail, competitors were whispering behind closed doors, and investors demanded explanations.

But Ethan’s focus was on one thing — the truth.

Late evening sunlight filtered through the blinds of his private office, casting long shadows across scattered documents and glowing monitors. Alyssa stood near the doorway, hesitant, watching Ethan with quiet...